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(No'Model.) 8 sheets-sheet 1.

E. G. SHORTT. 'ANGLE 000K ANDSUPPORT F08 TRAIN PIPE GOUPLINGS.

N8. 547,888. 'Patented ont. 8, 1895.

L y 'WLF/736656.31 v Inventor y fm1@ aS/qff @88858878 f (No Model.) l

l 3. Sheets-Sheet 2. E. G. SHORTT. l l ANGLE 000K AND vSU'PPQNT FOR TRAIN PIPE GOUPLINGS. No. 547,688. Patented Oct. 8, 1895.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

' `(NoModel.)

E. G'. SHORTT.

v ANGLE 000K AND SUPPORT POR TRAIN PIPE COUPLING-S. N0. 547,688.

.Patented Oct. 8, 1895.

'UNITE'- lTATES i i,

DWARD G. Silo-RTT, OF CARTHAGE, ASSIGNO'RTO CHARLES GOODVVN.

' EMERY, TRUSTEE, OF NEWVYOR'K, N. Y.

.ANGLE-COCK ANofsulPPon't-Fon TRAIN-PIPE cooPLm-cs.

To ZZ'whom/ it 4may comerm Beit known that LEDWARD Gr. SHORTT,

- citizen ofjthe United States, residing at Can thage, in the county of Jefferson, in the St'ate of New York,- have invented certain new 'and useful Improvements in-AirBrake Train-Pipe Coupling Mechanism, of which the following is a specication, reference beinghad to the drawings accompanying and-forminga part of the same'.

This invention relates generallyA to coupling mechanism for operatively .connecting and controlling the car train-pipes or c'ar trainpipesections of anv air-brake mechanism, especially an automatic'air-brake mechanism,

' when Athe cars are coupled' together to form a train, and to mechanism for controlling the coupling parts of the trainfpipe sections `when-- thej same' larenot in coupling position. By automatic ai'r-brake'mechanism 'is meant an air-brake mechanism which is brought into braking operation by' opening 'tle 'train-pipe andzeihausting therefrom the air held there-l V'in under pressure. In the use of a'n automatic y air-brake mechanism it' isessential that the passage of the train-pipe thereofbe positively' l' will insure 'such sections being left closed;

also, when two coupled cars are accidentally or improperly separated that the traimpipe upon'being opened shall be so fleft to insure the application of .the brakes on the two sec- --tionsof the train and hold the brake mechanismfurther inoperative until thetrain-pipe has been properlyclosed; also, it is desirable to support the coupling-'pipes of separate cars in such manner' that when they are infunvcoupled position the` trainpipe will beheld closed and the coupling parts thereof be pros tected against injury. l

. Thel present invention consists, in' general,

,cfa valve I'nechanism connecting a canse'c-f tion of trainpipe to its'coupling-pipe and positively' actuated by the coupling4pipe, so

thatwhen the coupling end of the coupling SPEClFICATliON fornning'part'of Letters Patent No. 547,688, dated Octpber 8. 1895. p Application filed November 20, 1894. Serial No. 529,367. (No model.)

pipe is coupled to another like section, or is unsupported, as by the pipe being left hangingfrom the valve mechanism, the train-pipe passage will be 'open to the coupling-pipe, andwhen said coupling end is uncoupled and brought to a particular position of support, as

the hang-up position of the coupling-pipe, the v v train-pipe passage will beheld'closed.

' In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view looking upwardly or from the ground of the platforms ot two cars coupled together Ain running position, Athis figure also showing the ends ot` two car-sections ofan air-brake train-pipe and the coupling-pipes of the same. in coupled or running position,in which position the valves connecting the pipes and 'sections are turned 'to open the train-pipe passage from 'one car to the other. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged end elevation of one carfplatformhowing the coupling end of one ot the coupling-'pipes in hung-up or supported position, inwhich position the trainpipe'valve operated by this coupling-pipe is turne'd to close the train-pipe passage.' Fig. 4

shows an enlarged central section of the trainpipe valve in running or open position. Fig.

,5f is a sideelevation view looking downwardly onthe same from above Fig. 4 and'on thev -same scale asthattigure. Fig. iis 'an edge view of the'coupling-,pipe hook or hanger or ,dummy-coupling Fig. 7 isa cross-section on plane aa of` ning or open position.

Fig. 4, showing the parts in run- Fig.. 8 is alike View showing the parts in breakaway.7 position,

open position bei'rigmaintain'ed. Fig. 9 shows 1 the uncou'pling or on-lap, also closed position. Fig. 10 shows the l1ang-up,.also closed position.

Referrmg to the views of the drawings in detail, 1 represents the truck-beam or general vframework 'of the truck or other `part ofthe car, to which is fixed the rigid car-section of train-pipe 2. e 3 is one of l the coupling-pipes, -usually -a flexible or hose pipe, 4 being one of the duplicate coupling halves carried on the end ofv this pipe and by which the coupling-pipe of one car is united in open cmniunication with lrfhe ipe of an adjacent car. v

`5 vsee Fig. 4), 's the valve casing of the I Cn.

train-pipe valve 6, which casing is securedto the rigid train-pipe 2 by the threaded neck?.V The valve 6 is of conical or plug form, though it may be of other construction. It ishollow or axially pierced by-the passage 8 and is laterally pierced `by the radial passage 9 of extent adapting it to openly register with'the train-pipe port-10 when the coupling-pipe and the valve areA inrunning position (a's well as when the pipe is hanging uncoupled) and when the valve is in breakaway position. This valve is provided with the coupling-neck 11, through which extends the passage 8, and to this neck is screwed the nipple 12, fixed to the coupling-pipe 3. To this neck 11 is .sc cured a position-indicating and valve-retaining spring 13, the free end of which rides over the notched flange 1 4 and thereby indicates various ,positions-of the valve as welles tends to hold the valve at any one of such positions.' A lug l5 on the neck is in plane with Stop 16 on the flange, whereby the plug is held open to the train-pipe when the coupling-pipe is-in coupled or'running position or its coupling end' is hanging or in unsupported position.

17 indicates the coupling-pipe hook ofr.

dummy-coupling, which, so-faras concerns its engagement with the coupling-pipe, is of common form. Usually such hook or dummy consists of a blank coupling, substantially the same in general form as o ne of the couplings 4, but without the usual open passage through the same, and it is iiexibly hungfrom the car and is adapted to couple with either of the couplings 4, and so as to cover the train-pipe opening in the samev to prevent the ingress of .dust or other foreign material. This common vform of dummy-coupling or 'co'u pling-pipe support acts imperfectly, by reason of the movementof the car, to properly hold the trainpipe passage through the coupling closed. To remedy thisIsupport myhook on a fixed pivotbolt 18 and provide the hook with a weight,

. such asthe gravity handle 19, by which the hook can be manipulated to engage'or'disengage the coupling of the coupling-hose, and which acts in engaging postion,.unde`iniluenceof gravity, to hold the hook tightly-closed upon the-coupling-pipe or its coupling. The various operations of this valve will now be understood. Assuming the couplings4 lof the coupling-pipes of two carsto be openly joined iii-.running position, the position of thetraiu-pipe valves will be as seen in Fig.' 7 that is, the manipulation of the coupling-pipes in joining the couplings will open thel trainpipe valves and put the car-sections of the train-pipe to full communication. While the coupling-pipes are thus held in running position, the-valves are positively held against being closed, and it is insured that the disconnection, operatively,of one part of the brake system lof thetrain from another part thereof will not occur, as is now a possible occurrence with the common coupling devices, as by the intentional turning of the common angle-cock,

or by neglect to open the same when the cars are coupled together. If parts of the train break away from each other, the couplingpipes between the adjacent and' parting cars will be drawn out horizontally to breakaway 7o position, as shwn in Fig 8, and upon-the couplings separatingor the train-pipe being otherwise opened by the separation of the cars the .valve of each .train-pipe scction will b'e -lieft in position holding the pipe '75 open, and so will cause the brakes to go on.

Uponv purposely 'disconnecting the couplingpipes` the trainnian should'lift the twojoined .Coupling-pipes until the train-pipe vwalves are `turued to on-lap or closed position of the valves, which 'position will be indicated ywhen the spring 13 of each valve falls'intothe mid- `(lle notch otl theflange 14. Then the coup.

lings may be separated without operatively opening either train-pipe section'. NVhen the. coupli'ngs'have been disconnected, it is th'e duty 'of the trainmau to swing or turn each" of the coupling-pipes upwardly or laterally to hang-up position; as seen in Fig. 3, or to any place resultingiu the closed 'position of -its train-pipe valve, and to put the pipe or 'itsc'oupling to locking engagement with its hang-up hookl or dummy coupling.. Wbile V 'one coupling-pipe is bei-ng hung up, the other may be left suspended at on-la'p. position, if l carefully left at such positipn, the indicatorspring being 'suh'iciently resistant to prevent the valve being turned to open position b'y the weight alone of the 'pipe when the cars are not moving. Ifeither coupling-pipe when uncoupled be permittedtodrop to running position, the train-pipe, valvewill he opened..

and the-hanging condition `ol? the couplingpipe will be indicated by the brakes going lap position, it will fall to running position upon the cary moving and set the brakes, it

being the intention that on-lap position shall only be availed of .while the trainman uncouples and is hanging up the'separated coupling-pipes or has unhungthe pipeslpreparatory to coupling the samein running position. 4In coupling the pip'esof separate ears together the couplings areA brought together train-pipe carried on the car', and by attaching the other relatively movable part of said mechanism tothe coupling-pipe, I 'am enabled touse the-coupling-pipe 'as a lever to readily and certainly operate and control the valve, which, by reason of the usual train- .i

pipe pressure of air,is necessarily strongly vseated and sodifcult of hand manipulation.

Further, as the coupling-pipe is hung on 'the valve and which acts as a pivot therefor, and

flexible hose, the necessary manipulation .particularly when such pipe'is as usual a thereof is easily made and without the common injuries to such iexible pipe when fixedly attached tothe car train-pipe (instead of pivotally as by the' present train-pipe valve)' re sulting from bending and twisting the same :onitself'.

What is claimed 'as newis#- of said valve mechanism and-adapted to con- Vneet the same toanother trainpipe section, said valve being'operated by said coupling,

pipe to hold the train-pipe open to thecoupling pipe when the coupling end of the latter is Vcoupled tovanother car train-pipe and when said coupling endis uncoupled and in hanging or unsupported position, and also to hold the train-pipe'closed when said coupling end is uncoupled and held supported.

.2.1 The combination of a rigidv car train-- pipe section of an automatic air brake mechanism, a valve mechanism one ofthe rela-y tively movable parts of which is fixed to said rigid section, a coupling pipeattached to and for operating the other part of said valve mechanism and for connecting theA same to fanother train-pipe section, said coupling pipe operating Saidvalve Ato hold the train-pipe open vto the coupling pipe when the coupling v end of the latter is coupled to another car sec-" tion and when said coupling end i's uncoupled 3 5" andin hanging or unsupported position, and also to hold the train-pipe closed when said coupling end is uncoupled and hung up, and a hook ory dummy coupling for'holdingthe coupling pipe 'in hung upposition. f -4o 3. In combination with an air-brake trainpipe section, a coupling and couplingpipe attached to the train-pipe by a valve mechanism controlling'the train-pipe passage, a pivotally supported hanger or dummy coup- 45 lingoperable to engage vthe coupling of the' coupling pipeand to hold the same closedL and a handle or weigh-t attached to said hanger and acting by gravity to hold said hangerin engagement with the coupling. 5c-

4. In combination with a rigid air-brake train-pipe section and its coupling pipe, a valve mechanism connecting the pipes and controlling the train-pipe passage and operated bythe coupling pipe, and a valve-retain- 55 `ing device acting upon the movable part of said valve to hold the same and the coupling,

lpipe temporarily in on-lap-orr closed position, 'for-the purpose set, forth. 

